Ments



Jan.. 17. 19.9.12.A J- C- LEDBETTE? I Re, 16,852

GARMENT PRESS 2- Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed 00T.. 27'. 1923 Jan.17,1928, J- C" l-Dll-:TTERA Re, 16,852

GARMENT FREss y 2 Shets-Sheet 2 original Filed oct/1.27', 192s v.Alcolnveuto'c 112.0? James C ea/beffa* ZZ A I 1 Q Reissued Jan. 17,1928.v

uNi-Ti-:D isjrAT'iss-,

JAMES cannon LEDBETTER Re. 16,852 l PATENT l OFFICE,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE PROSPERITYCOMPANY, INC., A. .CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

summits PRESS. g y

Original No. 1,564,698,`dated December 8, 1925, Serial No. 671,121', edOctober 27, 192s. lApplication 01- y reissue led December 1, 1927.4Serial No. 237,089m

This invention relates to pressingA machines, and particularly to powerpressing machines -for garment pressingv and laundry;y

pressin work.

an improved garment pressing.machine h av ing high power ressingmechanism enabling zfa garment to e pressed with great pressiirewithoutl on the operators part. y. v ,A further object is to produce an ini-.proved Combination pressing machine pos-` sessing both matically turnson its power to produce final pressure without undue etlort on the'partof the operator, and which machine subscquently opens by power.,

20 springs to lift the press head.

A further and important object is to pro; -Vide an improved pressadjustment means whereby the relative' position of the press jawmembers, and hence the degree of )aw compression, is conveniently placedunder the control of the operator so he. may regul late the pressure onthe work, -the ad'ustment means being placed at the front o the pressand pressure ress operatingmechanism which isremote .vlfirom theoperator. In the accompanying drawings,

which ma `.be mounted a .press buck 5. A

50. ress hea 6 is carried on the forward erid Said press lmanual andApower pressing mechanism, being'a machine which manu;l ally closed bythe operator and which auto-v thereby renderingunnecessary the useofcounterweights or i tut-ing extending to and connecting with ,.other.regulating means included in the Figure illustrates the pressing machinein side elethe press vjawsorhead 6 and -buck 5 l 'provide cooperatingpress members or jaws l i Anoject of the inventionfis to produce whichopen. and close in movable relation for purpose of pressing garments.

l Suitable'steamsheating and steam-spra ingthorouglily treatedandf'gmeansmay be, provided for either or b members. 5 and 6 fortreating the arments.' @A hand-hold' piece, or handle 9,

1a providedvby which the operator manually oth closes the head 6 downupon the buck 5.

The press lever 7 maybe provided'on the rearA endthereof with acounterweight 10 which balances the p ressl head 6 thereby'prefe'rablyggau'sing the press lever 7 tostand poised atan particularplace, which enables the'oper' :to quickly close the head 6 asV downupon hebuck 5. This particular constructionfand mode of operationconstipressing machine of this character to be produced withoutnecessarilyemploying springs or over-,balancing weights to lift thehead6 or open the press after the pressing operation is completed, and thus*I have described the preferred construction as being` so arranged thatthe counterweight 10 and head 6Hsubstantially balance vo iie with the yAmain operating toggle constituting pivotally joined links 12 and 13 ispivoted at its upper end at 14 to the press lever 7 and at its lower endupon eccentric means such as al cam 15 supported in the frame.` The camis fixed 'to a shaft 16, roller bearing 1 7 -being interposed-betweencam 15 and hiiblS made a part ofthe lower-- toggle link 13. A power`andt e tggle link 13 and arm'19 constitute a power .operated bell crankswingable on the camas a pivot.`

'apart of my invention enables a :s so;

The shaft 16 has a worm wheel20 fixed thereto and a worm pinion 21engages the wheel 20.. A reach rod 22 provided with a hand wheel 23 isfixed to the worm 21,4thereby enabling the operator standing at thefront of the machine to rotate the worm 21, which shift-s the cameccentric element 15 um v of the toggle 12 and 13; and this movementwhen the machine is o adjustably y pressing members or jaws and 6thereby rendering the'machine most ellicient -in operation for thevarious kinds and thicknesses of `,garment pressing work. By turning thehand wheel 23, the cam l15 'may be elevated` or rotated in eitherdirection to= bring the cam upto its higher or lower positionto adaptthe press to thinner or thickerfgarmentsf Y A power cylinder is mountedover the forward end of the ower arm 19 and lmay be anchored to the rame4; and the cylinder carries therein va freely float-ingv unattachedpiston 26. A substantially soft coil compressionl spring 27 isinterposed between the piston and lower en d of the cylinder andfunctions to return the piston 26 to' its uppermost position. A Vpushrod v29'is pivoterl at 30 to the power arm and has a contact head 31vwhich is engaged by the piston 26 erati'ng under power. The piston 26 isusua y held in aposition slightly abovethe push rod head, for indesigning this pressing machine improvement I have soconstructed it thatthe manual 33 is connected wit -end of thecylinder vemployed to operatethe motor 25--26 may` v operation involved inI closing the head 6ldown'upon the buck is carried out-without moving the pistons in the one`or more cylvinde'rs employed,v the object thereof being l to reducefriction of moving parts, thereby rendering the. pressing machine lmoreeasily closed. Thelower end of the c linder 25 is provided with an openhead w ich ermits the ush rod 29 to freely move up an down i in t ecylinder when the operator manually closes the press b pullingdownwardly on the handle 9.

A power press o ening cylinder or motor a pipe 34 to the upper 25whereby the steam be discharged or exhausted therefrom lto the cylinder33 for breaking the toggle and raising-the head by force of the exhaustfrom the cylinder 25. The press head liftin motor-33 is fitted. with apiston 35 whic car' ries a valve stem 36 as van integral partA thereof.The stem 36v works back and forth through a cylinder head 37 during themovement of the piston 35'in the cylinder 33.

A soft coil spring BSS confined between the piston 35 and cylin purposeof returning the normal position near the istonv 35 to its 33 is fittedwith a-connecting rod in the navaries the relative position of thel erhead 37 for the orward4 end -of the cylinder 33 to save the operatormoving the piston during the manual closmgistrokm een 1 masa ture of apush rod 39 and pivotal connecting link 45 which has one end pivot-allyconnected at '40 the toggle 12-13 and the other end 44 rests inengagement. with the outer endv of theipiston stem 36 of the piston' 35t-herebyclosing'and sealing a piston exhaust passage 41 without loss ofsteam pressure when ,thel piston is ushing against the push rod39-to-lift the 'ead 6.

-However, after the `piston 35v passes beyond certain provided auxiliaryexhaust ports 42 in the cylinder, the pressure of steam acting on thepiston is' dissipated sufticiently to permit the spring 38 to reactforwardly on the piston thereby moving the I iston valve. stem 36` away'from' the ball eaded end 44 of the push rod 39 which un,- covers theexhaust passagevv 41 and ermits the piston to quickly return to theorward orright hand end of K so w en it comes time .to close the press,the piston v35 has already passed out ofA the Way of all manuallyoperating parts thus saving the operatorseforts, and permitting the pushrod 39 to travel through the cyl-` inder head 37 and approach thefrontend of the cylinder 33 where the ball valve 4.4 of the rod 39 takesup a position over the the cylinder 33; and

end of the valve stem 36'closing-the exhaust passage 41 'to again makeready for another power o ening operation.

Acus ion sprin forward end of t e cylinder 33? against whichthe piston35 comes to rest in a manner designed to closely fit the lpush rod head44 overv the piston valve exhaust passage 41 Wlenl the pressing machinecloses, andth'us seal the exhaust 41 so that steam or air n nder. reureentering the motor 33 will positiv y act against the piston 35 to force.the

43 is provide-d atl-the same rearwardly to actuate the push rod '39 U tobreak the toggle 12-13 to open. the'press jaws. The push rod head 44performs the' double function of sealing the passage 4.1 and taking thethrust of the piston 35, and the head 44 passesfreely ithrough a centralopening made inthe cylinder head 37. It is to be a preciated that thispress is manually closed y the o erator only, and no pressing is actual]diene by him, for bythe time the push ro 39 and piston 35 reach thespring cushion 43, the power cylinder 25 will have been automaticallyturned on to perform thereal work of pressing as will be described.

A steam or air pressure supply main 46 not only supplies steam to thepressing jaw members 5'and 6 but conveys steam to the cylinder 25 aswell; and a valve 47 cuts o' and'turns on the steam to operate the motor25-26. The operation ofthe valve 47 is automatically accomplished"through the agency of a control rod- 48 pivotally connected at its lowerend to the power arm 19.

The-upper end of` the rod connects through 'a pull spring 49 with avalve han' dle 50 designed to operate the valve47- with aquick snapclosed and snap opened action when tlie power arm is manually worked upand down', respectively. A power control opening pedal. 52 is pivoted onthe -frame and connects with an exhaust valve 53, 'ineluded in thevexhaust pipe 34, and this pedal controls the press opening action.Aspring 54 holds the valve 53 normally closed an the pedal 52 up. A link51 or other suitable means connects the pedal 52 and exhaust valve 53 bywhich thelatter is opened by the operator to exhaust the pressure fromthe cylinder 25.

In operation, the press jaws are closed hand power onto the garmentspread upon the buck, and by the time the head and buck are in contact,tlievpull s ring 49 is under s'ulicient tension to quic y open the'valve47 which permits steam to ow to the cylinder 25 and' drive theovertake"-the push ro 29 which action automatically completes ,theoperation of` straightening the toggle 12-13 to produce extreme head andbuck pressure. A t the same time this movement of parts occurs, theother push rod 39 takes up' a position incontact with the valve stem 36as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figure 3. Having pressed,steamed,-and dried the garment on the buck, the operator now depressesthe pedal 52which discharges the pressure from the cylinder 25 intothecylinder 33 thereby A uickly opening the press by the power of t eexhaust from the power cylinder Aand lifting thehead without springs orweights or manualeort.

In order to avoid undue slammin of parts or too quickly opening thepress, t e power opening motor 33-35 isprovided wlth `an air cushiondash ot in effect already l described.l This das pot consists of thecylinder head 37, together with the piston 35 and valve stem 36 whichproduces an air lock vbetween the parts 37 and 35 when .the piston valvestem'36 moves into sliding fit with the head 37, thus `confining airtherebetween under pressurewhich increases rapidl until the movement ofparts is stopped against the air cushion. .At this time the uncovered tovent both cylinders 25 and 33 which permits both pistons tomove awayfrom the push rods to the upper and front ends of thee linders freeingthe press of any piston or cy inder connections and thussetting themachine -for the next operation. dashpot regulating valve 55 is placedinthe dashpot end of the motor 33 for the purpose of regulating theescape 'of compressed air to quietly bring the head, press lever`l andother parts. to rest in press openedposition.

.It is Idesirable to make power presses opcrate manuallyY as far asclosing the press 1s concerned for 1f the closing stroke 1s exv dpiston2.6 down to.v

ecuted by power, there is dangerof an accident for the operator may bychance get his hands between the jaws of the press. This dangeris'always avoided when the operator is compelled. to bringhis hands upto the' handle 9 tofclose the press. The closing o -eration is veryeasily accomplished for tie press lever is balanced, and there existsminimum ricti'onotmovmg parts. v

The front control hand device 23 for adjnsting the lcompressionregulating eccentric means l5 affords an easily `operated press begthejaw compression' on the work can ,bef-quickly ehangedfa'nd tested andmade (more or less at the will of the operator with- -out his movingabout or going to 4the rear of the press and without Iinding itnecessaryto secure a wrench for' making the adjustment. `The designand-(construction of the mechanism is such that it turns easily from thehandle 23. l f

It is seen'that the press operating and presi sure produeing'means 9, 7,124-13, 19, 2 5- 26 and other parts, include the movable member 13operatively connectedwith a press jaw and said movable member -13Hispivotally carried on the eccentric'pivot support means 15, and that thelatter'isshifte a high or low position'in thehub 18 bythe regulatingdeviceshown here-"by'way of example to comprise'a rod and vhand wheel 23which easily turn from the front "of the ma.- chine to move theeccentric 15 ,tol a higher or lower position'as desired.- '1i-' In theexample of press chosen'toillustrate the principle of theinventio theeccentric .means 15 is disposed at he rear y lower part of thel machinebut this elcfeentric is reached by Athe rod 22 which is fitted on thelower end with suitable means to'fifotatably shift and adjust tlieeccentric T15 to finely vary the elev'ation\ ofthe movable member 13.However, theadjustable slip;

port 15 and movable membr\13 carried. thereon, may be disposed at anyother co venient location in the press frame.

What I claim is: i u 1. A pressing machine comprising in com-l bination,cooperating press members, means to close the press manually, means toreduce 115., final pressure by thev application o motor f `3. A pressingmachine comprising in com- -b'ination, cooperating press members, means-duce lnal pressure by the application of motor means to the closedpress, power means -for raising one press member high above the otherfrom closed pressing position to fully opened position, and a hand wheelregulating devicefor varying the cooperative relative pressing positionof the press jmembers.

5'. A pressing machine comprising in combination, cooperating pref-smembers, means to close the press'manually, means to produce finalpressure by the application of motor means to the closed press,'powermeans for raising one press'I member high above the other -romc osedpressing position to fully f opened position, a toggle connected withthe said one press member being raised, a cam ivot bearin supporting thetogvle, and a and regulating vdevice to adjustazbly rotate y the. cam'.

6. A pressing machinecomprising in combination, cooperating pressmembers, means to close the press manually, means to produce finalpressure by the application of motor .means to the closed press,powermean's for raising one press member high above the` I other fromclosed pressin position to fully openedcposition, a ress ever carryingone of the members. sai manually closing means. constituting a handlecarried on one of the press members, and a counterbalance weight carriedon .the press lever to balance the op-v erable pressmember.

7 A pressing machine comprising in combination, a frame, a'bell crankpivoted therein, a press lever operated by one lendof the bell crank,cooperating press members operable to open and. close bythe action ofthe press lever,`,a power cylinder connected to the other end of thebell crank to close the` ress members, and motor means driven by Fh eexhaust of the power cylinder to rock the bell crank to open the press.

8. A pressing machine comprising inA coinbination, a frame, a.bell-,crank pivoted therein, a press lever operated by one end ofthe ibell crank, Vcooperating press members operable to open and close by theaction of the press lever, a power cylinder connected to l the other endof the bell crank to operate the press members, motor means driven bythe exhaust of the power cylinder to rock the bell crank to open thepress, an adjustable end of the manually closing operation, a motorarrangedtov'open the press by power, a manually operable means designedto control the motor, and means to automatically cut off the ower motorwhen the ing motor egins to act.

10. A pressing machine comprising in combination, a frame, a press leverpivoted therein, cooperating press members operable by thelever tovopen-and close 'the-press, a toggle connected to the press member, apower arm fixed to the toggle, manuallyv closing press means, a powerpressure motor connected to the ower arm, means to automatically turn ont e power motor at the end of the manual closing Operation, a motorarranged to open the.' ress by power, a manually operable means esignedto control press openvthc motor, Ymeans to automatically ycut olf thepower inoton when the press opening motor begins to act, adashpotembodying al cylinder, a piston reciprocablel inthe cylinder,andmeans for returiiin the piston to rest at one end of the cylin 'erwithout disturbing the closed position ofthe press members.

.lL-A' pressing machine comprising ,inl combination, cooperative openingand closing press4 members, power cylinders connected with the pressmembers, fluid Supply means running to one cylinder to pro uceI extremepressure, an exhaust connection extending from the lcylinder producingextreme pressure to theother cylinder which acts to open the press bypower, and manual pressclosing means.

12. A pressing machine' comprising in combination, cooperative openingand closing Apress members, power cylinders connected with the pressmembers, fiuid supply means running to one cylinder to produce extremepressure, an exhaust connection extending from the cylinder producingextreme pressure to the'other cylinder which acts to open the press bypower, manual llll' press closing means which governs the fluid i supplymeans, and manual vcontrol means controlling the operation of the`exhaust connection.

13. A garment press comprising in combination cooperating press members,a power cylinder, a'piston freely `floating therein, a

lao

Agarment press comprising in combinationcooperatmg press members, apower means acting von 'normal inactive1 position after producing cyli1,lder,"`a piston freely floating therein, a ush rod engagin the pistonand connectwith thel mem ers to produce pressure, the .piston to returnit to nal ressur'e, and another cylinder connected with the pressmembers adapted to :open thepress.

15. A garment press comprising in combi-v nation cooperating pressmembers, a power cylinder, a piston freely vfloating therein, a

ush rod engagin lng with the' lmem ers to produce pressure, means actingon the piston to return itto ynormal inactive position aftery producmgl'x-llalv-v ressure,` another cylinder connected with't e press membersadapted to open the press, and 4a connection existin between the two clinders enabling-the 'ex aust of one`- cylin er `tol operate the other-cylinder.

i cylinders enabling Apessure, a

'whereby the piston signed to open and a piston freely floating therein,

16. A garment press comprising in combination cooperating press members,a power cylinder, a piston freely floating'therein, a

ush rod engaging the piston and connect-- mg -with the members toproduce pressure, means-acting on the piston toreturn it to normalinactive position .after producing final ressure, anotherv cylinderconnecte withv t e press' members ada ted to open the press, aconnection existing etween the two the exhaust of one cylinder tooperate the other cylinder, and manualcontrol means adapted to open andclose the said connection.

17'. A garment pressing machine compris- -ng in combination,pressingmembers desi ed to open and close one against the ot er, a handoperated means designed for safely closing the press, a power cylinder,a piston freely floating therein, a push connecting rod extending fromthe piston to one pressing member adapted to produce high lost motionconnection provided tween the piston and pressing members inder toproduce higi pressure andV then returns to normal inactive position.A

18. .A garment pressing machine comprising in combination. ,pressingmembers declose one against the other, a hand operated means designedfor safely closing the, press, a power cylinder,

a push connecting rod ,extending from the pistonv to one pressing memberadapted to produce high pressure, alost motion connection providedbetween the piston and pressing members whereby the piston pushes'through the power press opening the piston and connectl ing incombination,

ushes through the cyl-v cylinder to produce high pressure and thenreturns to normal inactive. position, and a. means operable from thecylinder'. I

1 9. A garment pressing machine comprisinginicombination, pressingmembers designed to open and close one-against the other, a safelyclosing the press, a power cylinder, a piston freely floating therein',a push connecting rod extending from the piston to one 'pressing memberadapted to produce high pressure, a lost motion connection providedbetween the piston and pressing members whereby the piston pushesthrough the cyl- -1nder to produce high pressureand then returns tonormal inactive' position, a 4power press opening means operable fromthe cylinder and comprising a cylinder and piston motor, a venting valvein the press lopening means, and means causing vthe piston to return tonormal position after the venting means has acted.

20. A garment pressing .machine comprising in combination pressingmembers dev-signed to open and' close one against the other, a handoperated means adapted to safely close the press, motor means adapted toact on .the closed press to produce final pressure, a power pressopening means connected with the pressing members, and a dashpot adaptedto bring the moving parts quietly to rest. 21. A garment pressingmachine comprispressing members designed to open and close one .againstthe other, a 'hand operated means adapted for safely closing the press,motor means adapted to act on the closed press to produce finalpressure, a power press opening means connected with the members, adashpot adapted to bring the moving parts quietly to rest,

hand operated means designed for and means related with the pressopening means-to return said means to normal position immediately afterthe press has opened.

22. A pressing machine comprisin in combination cov-operating. pressingmem ers, toggle having one end thereof pivotally attached to one of thepressing members, an

adjustable pivot supporting the other end of' the toggle, means reachingfrom the adjustable pivot upwardly to a position convenient to anoperator whereby the height of the toggle may be regulated to vary thepressure-between the pressing members, an means for operating thetoggle.

23. A pressing machine comprisin in combination'cooperating pressing memers, a toggle having one end thereof pivotally attached to one of thepressing members, an adjustable pivot supporting the other end of thetoggle, meansvreaching from the adjustable pivot upwardly to a positionconvenient to an operator whereby the' height of the toggle mayberegulated to vvary the Il# members carried thereby,

frame,- close the jaws and to produce jaw comprese t pressure betweenthepressing members, and manual means for closing the press and operatinthe toggle.

24. pressingmachine comprisin in combination, cooperating pressin memers, a toggle employed to open an close the pres, a cam pivot relatedwith the toggle, means connected with the cam pivot for rotatinfr thecam to alter lthe positionof the togglto vary the pressure between theressing members, a reach rod extending ilrom the means to the .front ofthe presslnu machine, means on the end of the reach rod for rotatingsaid rod, and toggle operating means.

25. A pressing machine comprising 1n combination, a frame, cooperatingpresslng a cam pivot rotatably carried on the frame, a press closingmechanism supported on the cam pivot and connected with a pressingmember, a worm `wheel and pinion connected with the cam,

and a reach rod extending from the worm and pinion to the operatorsposition.

26.- A press comprising a frame. press jaws, and o erating means toactuate a jaw to open an close the plress and to produce compressionbetweenvt e jaws; said operating means including a downwardly directedmovable member operatively connected to one of thejaws, a pivotcarried'iu the lower part of the frame and on which'the movable memberis supported, eccentric means cooperatin with the pivot to shift andadjust the position of the movable member in relation to the frame, anda control device operatively connected with the eccentric mean's andextending to the upper part of the frame and to a point adjacent to an orator for his manipulation to vary the position of the eccentric meansto 'regulate the jaw compression.

A press comprising a frame, ress jaws supported on the upper part o theand operating means to open and sion; means to regulate the jawcompression comprising, a pivot carried in the lower rear portion of theframe on which an element of the operating means is movably carried,eccentric means cooperating with the pivot to shift said pivot andadjust the position of the movable clement in relation to the frame, anda regulating device operatively connected at its lower end totheeccentric means and 'extending upwardly and forwardly at an Yangle itsupper end Vit carries a. handle convenient to an operator.

28. A press comprising a frame, press jaws carried on the upper frameportion, vand operating means including a vertically swingable memberoperatively connected to one of the jaws to open and close` the press tnthe frame'where on.

and to produce jaw compression; means to regulate the j aw compressioncomprising, a, pivot carried in thelower rear part of the frame beneaththe press jaws and on whichY the vertically swingable member is movablysupported, adjustment means cooperatn vwith thepivot by which the-latteris move in relation'to the vframe to correspondingly move said swingablemember to va jaw compression, and a regulating 1device operativelyconnected at its lower end to the adjustment means and extendingupwardly to the front side of the frame convenient to an operator.

29. A ress comprising, jaws carried on the upper part thereof, and

the

a frame, press operating means .to open and close the jaws which theeccentric mounting of the pivot 1s actuated to adjust the degree of jawcompression.

SOL A ress comprising, a frame, press jaws carried on the upper partthereof, and

operating means movable in the frame Itoopen and close the press and toproduce 'aw compression; means to regulate the aw compressioncomprising, a the frame and including eccentric means on which ismovably carried a member of theaforesaid operating means, a wormv wheelconnected -to the eccentric means to rotate the same, a worm meshingwith the worm wheel` a reach rod connected with the worm to rotate itand extending upwardl)7 to the front of the press to a point convenientto an. operator land having a handle on its upper end for manualoperation.

31. A press comprisin jaws carried thereby; an operating meanslncluding, an upstanding member operatively connected at its upper endto one of the'jaws, to open and close the jaws and to produce jawcompression; means to regulate the jaw compression comprising, a pivotcarried in the lower part of the frame on which the lower end of theupstanding member is supported, andadjustment means. to move the pivotin the frame, anda reach rod operatively connected with' the adjustmentmeans and extending upwardly to a. position' convenient to an operatorfor his tion to regulate the compression.

press comprisin a frame, jaws carried thereby; an

manipulapivot carrie in a frame, press pressY operating means including,an upstandng member operahandle on the' upper end thereof adjacent totively connected at its upper end to one -of `an operator andoperatively connected at its 10 the. aws, to open and close the pressand t0, lower end to the eccentric to rotte'the same A pro uce jawcompression; means to regulate to vary the compression. A

5 the jaw compression comprising, an eccen- In testimony whereof I havesigned this `tric carried in thelower part of the frame specific-ation.on which the lower end of the upstanding .v v member is supported, and arod having a JAMES CAMROD LEDBETTER.

